New light on Chonemorpha grandiflora, (Roth) M.R. and S.M. Almeida, a medicinal plant for Tribal health

Abstract

Chonemorpha grandiflora, (Roth) M.R. and S.M. Almeida syn C. fragrans (Moon), Alston (Apocynaceae) is medicinal plant used since ancient times. It is used in medicinal preparations such as kumaryasavam and sudarsanasavum used in Kerala Ayurvedic system. Entire plant, roots and root bark are used for fever, skin diseases, inflammations, gynaecological disorders and stomach disorders. It is also used as blood purifier by some tribes in Kerala. Phytochemical investigations on C. grandiflora from Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra state by the author has revealed the presence of camptothecin, an important anticancer compound. Camptothecin in ethanolic extracts of stem with bark of Chonemorpha grandiflora was more in the plants from Kerala state (13 mg/kg)than those collected from Karnataka (12 mg/kg) and Maharashtra state (10 mg/kg). Camptothecin is an important anticancer compound useful in the treatment of colorectal cancer, lung cancer as well as blood cancer. Thus use of this plant as a blood purifier by tribes in Kerala is justified. The ethanolic extracts of stem barks of plants from Kerala locality also exhibited significantly higher anti-bacterial activity mainly against pathogenic organisms. Further investigations on this plant would help in improvement of tribal health.